An Investigation on the Usage of Computer Based Test on the Performance of Secondary School Student in Nigeria
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objectives of this study of this study is investigate the impact of computer based test CBT on the performance of secondary school students. To arrive at a valid result the specific objectives that will guide the research is:
- To find out the effect of CBT on the performance of secondary schools students
- To investigate the problems associated with the use of CBT in Nigeria
- To discover if any measure is stop or put an end to the problems OF CBT in Nigeria
- To proffer solutions to the problem of CBT in Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Although the primary uses of microcomputers in education are instructional and administrative, the expansion of computer technology has created many possibilities for computer applications in the area of testing and assessment. McBride (2005) anticipated large-scale applications of computerized testing as computers decreased in cost and became more available. Many important issues have to be considered when administering tests by computers. Among these are the equivalence of scores obtained in computerized testing compared with conventional paper-and-pencil tests, and the impact of computerization on the test-taker. This chapter discusses these issues as well as the current applications of the computer in testing, advantages and disadvantages of computerized testing, and the effects of administering tests via the computer.The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework
- Chapter Summary
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
COMPUTER
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you can use a computer to type documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web. You can also use it to edit or create spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos. Computer also has two component which is hard ware and soft ware.
Hardware: is any part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the keyboard or mouse. It also includes all of the computer’s internal parts.
Software: is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do and how to do it. Examples of software include web browsers, games, and word processors.
APPLICATIONS OF THE COMPUTER IN TESTING
The computer is currently being used in many areas of testing and assessment. In addition to the already established uses of computers for test scoring, calculation of final grades and test score reporting, computers can also be used for the determination of test quality, test item banking and test assembly, as well as for test administration.
Advertisements
TEST AND ITEM ANALYSIS
Assessing test quality generally involves both item and test analysis. Classical statistics used to summarize item quality are based on difficulty and discrimination indices; these are calculated more easily and quickly with the use of the computer than by traditional hand methods. Items which have been inadvertently miss-keyed, have intrinsic ambiguity, or have structural flaws such as grammatical or contextual clues that make it easy to pick out the correct answer, can be identified and culled out. These items are characterized by being either too easy or too difficult, and tend to have low or negative discrimination. Test analysis can also provide an overall index of reliability or internal consistency, that is, a measure of how consistently the examinees performed across items or subtests of items. Christine (2011).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
AREA OF STUDY
Gombe State is located in northeastern Nigeria and is one of the country’s 36 states. It was created out of Bauchi state on 1st October, 1996 by the then military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha. Gombe state shares boundaries with Yobe state to the North, Borno and Adamawa states to the East, Bauchi state to the West and Taraba State to the South. It is chiefly inhabited by many indigenous tribes which Fulani constitute the majority. The state is nicknamed as “Jewel in the Savannah”.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only ninety five (95) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 95 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
In this study, our focus was an investigation on the usage of computer based test on the performance of secondary schools students in Nigeria using selected schools in Gombe local government as a case study. The study specifically was aimed at highlighting the effect of CBT on the performance of secondary schools students investigate the problems associated with the use of CBT in Nigeria, discover if any measure is stop or put an end to the problems OF CBT in Nigeria, proffer solutions to the problem of CBT in Nigeria.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 95 responses were validated from teachers and students of the selected schools.
CONCLUSION
Based on the finding of this study, the following conclusions were made:
- It has helped in reducing cheating in examination
- It has helped student to study better, hence it has increased academic performance of student
- It has helped student to gain interest in information communications technology.
- Lack of infrastructural facilities
- Incompetence on the part of examiness.
- Insufficient accommodation, equipment and power outage.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the responses obtained, the researcher proffers the following recommendations:
- Government should make available sufficient accommodation and computer equipment in other for students to have smooth examination
- Government should provide enough computers for the teeming population preparing for the CBT examination
- It is also recommended that student should learn how to use a computer in other for them to achieve success in their examination
REFERENCES
- Akpa GO, Ayeni AO, Adedeji SO (eds) Access, equity and quality in higher education. National Association for Educational Administration and Planning (NAEAP) Publications. Ibadan: Awemark Printers pp. 487-496.
- Bodmann, S. M. and Robinson, D. H. (2004), Speed and Performance Differences among Computer Based and Paper-Pencil Tests. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 31(1), 51 – 60.
- Bunderson, C.V., Inouye, D.K. & Olsen, J.B. (2009). The four generations of computerized educational measurement. In R.L. Linn (Ed.), Educational measurement. (3rd ed., pp. 367- 408). New York, NY: Macmillan
- Dusek, J.B. (2000). The development of test anxiety in children. In I.G. S arason (Ed.), Test anxiety: Theory, research and applications (pp. 87 119). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
- Duthie, B. (2004). A critical examination of computer – administered psychological test. In Schwartz, M.D., Using computers in clinical practice: Psychotherapy and mental health applications. NY: The Haworth Press.
- Fletcher, P. & Collins, M.A.J. (2006). Computer administered versus written tests –advantages and disadvantages. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching. 6_(2), 38-43
- Hambleton, R.K. (2010). Using microcomputers to develop tests. Educati onal Measurement: Issues and Practice. 3(2). 10-14.
